Splicing threads



July 18, 1950 E. J. ABBOTT SPLICING THREADS Filed April so, 1948 M67250)" liizg'd dfi /z Z Z 5 Patented July 18, 1950 SPLICING THREADS Edward James Abbott, Wilton, N. H., assignor to Abbott Machine Company, Wilton, N. H., a corporation of New Hampshire Application April 30, 1948, Serial No. 24,114

, 19 Claims.

1 Thi invention relates to the splicing of thread, particularly single-ply thread either intended to be used as single-ply thread or subsequently twisted together with another ply or plies.

In the handling ofthread it is often necessary to join two lengths together, such for example as to join the leading end of one bobbin of thread tothe tail end of another bobbin of thread, or to join together two pieces from between which some imperfection, such as a slub, has been cut out.- I

The usual commercial practiceis to tie two with-yarn tangling in being unwound from bobbins are sometimes attributable to the presence of knots in the thread. Moreover, knots have a tendency to catch in various elements of thread handling machinery, such as the heddles and reeds of looms, and in the needles of knitting maovercomes certain practical limitations which in the past have seriously limited the strength of joints. I

I have discovered that the mere fact that a joint of a spliced thread resembles in appearance the original parts of the thread does not at all insure that the joint will have adequate strength. For instance, if two out pieces of thread are untwisted near their ends, removal of the shortlength fibers which result from the cutting produces a tapered or frayed portion, and if the two such tapered portions are overlaid and twisted together, a joint resembling the original thread will result, However, unless adhesive is added a joint so produced has very little strength; and it may reasonably be concluded that in such a joint chines. Moreover, when they appear in the fin- -out:of the fabric, or else constitute a visible imperfection in the fabric.

The invention accordingly aims to provide for joining together two pieces of thread with a joint of improved strength and which avoids the objectionable features of knots and of previously used splices.

Other objects of the invention and features of advantage ,will be apparent from this specification and its drawings wherein the invention is explained by way of example. p v p In the drawings, in which all the figures are enlarged, but not accurately to scale,

. Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing two pieces of single-ply thread which are to be joined by use of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the two pieces of thread after twist has been displaced from an end portion of each into the remaining part of the piece of thread;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the two end portions disposed in overlapping relation in contact with each other;

Fig. 4: is a diagrammatic view showing the end invention lies in the cohesion of individual fibers is deflicient as compared to the cohesion of fibers within the original unspliced pieces of thread.

The present invention involves a drafting of untwisted end portions of the thread and a twisting together of these drafted portions.

The invention may be practiced by machinery or by hand manipulation of the thread, and in hand manipulation simple clamps or weights may advantageously be used to hold the material in an untwisted state preparatory to and during the drafting.

In practicing the present invention the twist is first substantially removed from an end portion of each of the two pieces of threads to be joined. Preferably, twist is removed from an end portion of each thread exceeding in length the average fiber length of the fibers of which the thread consists, or still better, from an end portion of each thread exceeding even the maximum fiber length. Thus, with cotton having an average fiber length of 1 inch the twist may for instance be removed froma 2 inch length of each thread end. Thus the untwisted portion consists in large part of an average assortment of the fibers of the original thread, untwisted, and with a large part and often the preponderant part of the fibers of the untwisted portion not extending into the remaining twisted main portion of the thread, but floating, so to speak, in the untwisted end portion and capable oflengthwise shift by a drafting-operation.

In the preferred procedure, the untwisted portions of the two threads, which are to form the joint, thus consist largely of fibers which have neither been cut or broken, so that the joint does not need to depend for strength upon such shortened and less desirable fibers.

uRemoval of thetwist from. an end portion of each of the two threads is preferably, and most expeditiously, accomplished by displacing this twist into the remaining part of such thread and holding it there while the end portions are required to be in an untwisted state. Thus, with the end of thread 1! held at the line |3E3, the twist originally in the portionof thread I! bee tween lines I 3l3 and l4i4 is forced to the left (as shown in Fig. 2) into the main body portion of thread H, where the twist therefore becomes somewhat steeper than originally,land the thread I l is then held at the line ld lii, tern: porarily preventing the twistfrqm returning into the portion L between lines 13 :3a'nd I i-M.

A similar untwisting operation is performed either simultaneously or suceessively'upon-the 1'0 ing the twist into the remaining main portions of corresponding end portion of thread l2, withthe result that the corresponding end portions of be th ads r n ntwis ed. sta an w this untwisting is accomplished by displacement of twist into the main portions of the threads, the twist that was originally in the end portions augments the twistoriginally present in the rem n maiee ri qa' f e d:

It will be understoodthat during the operation of removing the twist from the end portions of the threads, the threads need not necessarily yet rate plies and contribute to the strength of the joint by cohesion of individual fibers.

Upon completion of the drafting, twist of the same or approximately the same degree as the twist of the original thread is imparted to the drafted material, producing the joint shown in Fig. 5' in which all passer the united thread have substantially the same degree of twist. When the removal of twist from the end portions of the thread has been accomplished by displacthread and holding it there during the drafting, the twist can readily be restored to the drafted material bymerely removing the restraint which has been applied at lines l3l3 and l4l4 and so. allowing .thetwist to run back into the drafted material from both main portions of the thread. The drafting operation, described above, should be carried on to an extent such that after the restoration of twist the retwistedmaterial: of. the joint has approximately the diameter of the main portions of the joined threads, and thisresult. is secured when the draft applied to the untwisted portions is a draft of. approximately. two :times, the length Lof Fig. 2.being: drafted to. a length of-2 times L in Fig. 4.

be oppositely directed nor parallel as shown in Fig. 2, but they, are so shown in Fig. 2 because it .is more, convenient to hold and handle them in this manner.

After removal of the twist from the end portions of the, two threads, the two such end portions are drafted and are twisted together. The strength of the jointii considerably improved if this drafting ot the two. untwisted end portions is performed simultaneously upon the two end portions while "these. end portions are in contact 7 with v each other; and this preferred procedure will be described.

. Accordinglyithe. two, oppositely disposed untwisted end, portions are shown as overlapped in contact with each, other in Fig; '3 preparatory to the drafting. Thereupon 'the two endfportions, held in an untwisted state, are drafted together, producing anelo'ngated condition of each of these untwisted portions as diagrammatically shown in Fig. l-

a corresponding material reduction in thicl ness of the spliceeyentually resulting, as compared to, merely combining such end portions without drafting.

Drafting largely-reduces the extent to which fibers or ends. of. fibers are. wrapped around the bundle of fibers of each end portion, and the drafting bringsgtheffiloers into a; straight. condition in which th yar best adapted tobecome cohered with their neighboring fibers. When, as in the preferred example, the drafting isper-. formed simultaneously on the two ends which are overlapped and in contact, the line of demarcation between the, two ends, diagrammatically shown in Fig. 3, substantially disappears as .a re-. sult of the drafting, asindicated'inEig. 4. Cor hesion of fibers stemming, from the opposite threads is thus promoted. and the strength of the ultimate joint is increased accordingly.

The cohesion of: fibers stemming fromtheiopposite threads, can. be further.- promotedbyincreasing the total length of the untwisted portions that are superposed. forthe drafting, and the ability of the process to make the joint. as long as may be desired is advantageous in make ing it possible for the two overlapped portionsof the joint to lose their initial character of sepa- When, as indicated above, .each'untwisted end which draftedin the :processris longenough so that a large part-of its fiberscomprise an aver.- age assortment of fibers (with refrence toxthe fibers of the original thread). and :so. that a large part of its fibers do not extend. into thesti llztwistqed main-portion: of threadbutfioat in-theunr twisted portion, the. composite, thread of the drafted-joint can closely. conform-to. the original thread in fiber distributionn The joint produced this invent-ion,- requires no adhesive, having adequateostrength'as, made without adhesive. Thajoint moreover, is practically-indistinguishable; in size and appearance from the original threadazexcepting that the; two slight tail portions.may without; detriment, pro, trude from the joined thread,,as,shown ill-Fig.5.

I claim 1.. Method of splioing twothreadswt twisted fibers comprising removing! twist .fronr end portion of eachof the threads, draftingteach,untwisted end portion, and twisting thedrafted: end

. portions together, the drafting of the enda-'portions beingcarried to arm-extent sufficientto repr resent a materialreduction-in thickness of the resulting splice, as comparedtocombining such end *portions wi-th'out drafting.

2 Method -of splicing two threads of-twisted fibers comprising removing twist from: anend portion ofeach of" the 'threads for a sufilci'ent length so that fibers of average length withref erence to the fibers of 't-h-eorig-inak threadare contained substantially free from twistwith-in such" untwisted portion;- drafting:eachuntwisted end portion and twisting-the drafted end pore tions together} the drafting -of the end portions being carried to an extent sufficient to represent a material reduction in thickness of 'the result:- ing splice, ascompared to combining. such :end portions without-drafting 3'. Method of-- splicing-"two threads of itw-isted fibers comprising remdvling; twists from. 1 arr end 1 portion of each of the two threads;xdisposing the two untwisted end portions in overlapped relation, oppositely directed, 1 and -whileso disposed drafting saiduntwistedoverlappedi portions; and thereafterrestoringttwisttinto: the:v drafted ma; terial, the draftingL'of .theendiportions-beingcahried to an extent sufficient to represent a mate-! end portions without drafting.

frial'rduction in thickness of the=resulting splice, as compared --to combining such end portions without drafting. 1 ,1

4. Method of splicing'two threads of twisted fibers comprising removing twist from an-end portion of each of the two threads, disposing the two untwisted end portions in: overlapped relation, oppositely directed, and while-so disposed intermingling the fibers of the two overlappedzend portions by subjecting said fibers to a drafting operation, and thereafter restoring twist into the drafted material, the drafting'of the end portions being carried to an eXtentsufiicient to represent a material reduction in :thickness of the resulting splice, as com-pared to combiningsuch 5. Method of splicing two threads of twisted fibers comprising removing twist from an end portion of each of the two threads, overlapping 3 with each other a sufficient length of each unso disposed drafting said untwisted overlapped,

portions, and thereafter restoring twist into the drafted material, thedrafting'of the end portions being carried to an extent sufiicient to represent a material reduction in thickness of the resulting splice, as compared to combining such end portions without drafting.

6. Method of splicing two threads of twisted fibers comprising removing twist from an end portion of each of the two threads, said end portion in which the twist is removed being greater in length than the average length of the constituent fibers of its thread, disposing the two untwisted end portions in overlapped relation, oppositely directed, and while so disposed drafting said untwisted overlapped portions, and thereafter restoring twist into the drafted material, the drafting of the end portions being carried to an extent sufficient to represent a material reduction in thickness of the resulting splice, as compared to combining such end portions without drafting.

7. Method of splicing two threads of twisted fibers comprising removing twist from an end portion of each of the two threads, said end portion in which the twist is removed being at least as long as the maximum length of the constituent fibers of its thread, disposing the two untwisted end portions in overlapped relation, oppositely directed, and while so disposed drafting said untwisted overlapped portions, and thereafter restoring twist into the drafted material, the drafting of the end portions being carried to an extent sufficient to represent a material reduction in thickness of the resulting splice, as compared to combining such end portions without drafting.

8. Method of splicing two threads of twisted fibers comp-rising removing twist from an end portion of each of the two threads, said end portion in which the twist is removed being sufficiently long that a large part of the fibers therein do not extend into the remaining twisted portion of the thread, disposing the two untwisted end portions in overlapped relation, oppositel directed, and while so disposed drafting said untwisted overlapped portions, thereafter restoring twist into the drafted material, the drafting of the end portions being carried to an extent sufficient to represent a material reduction in thickness of the resulting splice, as compared to combining such end portions without fibers comprising displacing twist from an ,end

portion of each of the two threads into the remaining part of such thread, disposing the two untwisted end portions in overlapped relation, oppositely directed, and while so disposed drafting said untwisted overlapped portions, and thereafter restoring twist into the drafted material, the drafting of the end portions being carried to an extent sufiicient to represent a material reduction in thickness of the resulting splice, as compared to combining such end portions without drafting. 10; Method of splicing two threads of twisted fibers comprising displacing twist from an end portion of each of the two threads into the remaining part of such thread, disposing thetwo untwisted end portions in overlapped relation, oppositely directed, and while so disposed drafting said untwisted overlapped portions, and

thereafter allowing twist to run from said-remaining parts of said threads into the drafted material, the drafting of the end portions being carried to an extent suflicient to represent amaterial. reduction in thickness of the. resulting splice, as compared to combining such end portions without drafting.

11. Method of splicing two threads of twisted fibers comprising displacing twist from an end portion of each of the two threads into the remaining part of such thread, disposing the two untwisted end portions in overlapped relation, oppositely directed, and while so disposed drafting said untwisted overlapped portions, and thereafter restoring twist into the drafted material, the drafting being carried to an extent such that after restoration of twist the retvvisted material has approximately the diameter of the main portions of the joined threads.

12. Method of splicing two threads of twisted fibers comprising displacing twist from an end portion of each of the two threads into the remaining part of such thread, disposing the two untwisted end portions in overlapped relation, oppositely directed, and while so disposed drafting said untwisted overlapped portions with a draft of approximately two times, and thereafter restoring twist into the drafted material.

13. Method of splicing two threads of twisted fibers comprising removing twist from an end portion of each of the threads, drafting each untwisted end portion, and twisting the drafted end portions together, the drafting of the end portions being carried at least to an extent of approximately two.

14. Method of splicing two threads of twisted fibers comprising removing twist from an end portion of each of the threads for a sufficient length so that fibers of average length with reference to the fibers of the original thread are contained substantially free from twist within such untwisted portion, drafting each untwisted end portion and twisting the drafted end portions together, the drafting of the end portions being carried at least to an extent of approximately two.

15. Method of splicing two threads of twisted fibers comprising removing twist from an end portion of each of the two threads, disposing the two untwisted end portions in overlapped relation, oppositely directed, and while so disposed drafting said untwisted overlapped portions, and thereafter restoring twist into the drafted material, the drafting of the end portionshbeing carried at least to an extent of approximately two,

16. Method of splicing two threads of twisted fibers comprising removing twist froman end portion of each of the two threads, said end portion in which the twist is removed being greater in length than the average length :of the constituent fibers of its thread, disposingthe two untwisted end portions in overlapped relation, oppositely directed, and while so disposeddraftingsaid untwisted overlapped portions, and thereafter restoring twist into the draftedvmaterial, the drafting of the end portions being carried at least to an extent of approximately two.

17. Method of splicing two threads of twisted fibers comprising removing twist from an end portion of each of the two threads, said end portion in which the twist is removed being at least as long as the maximum length of the constituent fibers of its thread, disposing the two untwisted end portions in overlapped relation, oppositely directed, and while so disposed drafting said untwisted overlapped portions, and thereafter restoring twist into the drafted'material, the drafting of the end portions being carried at'least to an extent of approximately two.

- 18-. Method-50f splicing two threads-of twisted fibers comprising; removing twist from an end portion of each of the two threads, said end portion. which the "twistis, removed being suffici-entlylong that a large part of the fibers therein do not extend into the remaining twisted portion. of the thread, disposing the two untwisted end portions in overlapped relation, oppositely directed, and while so disposed drafting said untwisted overlapped portions, thereafter restoring twist into the drafted material, the drafting of theend portions being carried at least to an extent of approximately two.

19. Method of splicing two threads of twisted fibers comprising displacing twist from an end portion of each of the two threads into the remaining part of such thread, disposing the two untwistedi, end portions in overlapped relation,

oppositely directed, and while so disposed drafting said untwisted overlapped portions, and thereafter restoring twist intoithe drafted material, the drafting of the end portions being carried at least to anextent of approximately two.

EDWARD JAMES'ABBOTT.

No references cited. 

